reasons behind sumter school district students’ decisions
TRANSCRIPT
Reasons Behind Sumter School District Students’ Decisions to
Take PhysicsHui-Yiing Chang
Jessica Kohler
Jordan Ard
Clausell Mathis
Sumter School District
Fall 2014
• 167 out of 4740 high school students were enrolled in a physics course.
Spring 2015
• 75 out of 4593 high school students were enrolled in a physics course.
Sumter School District
Fall 2014
• 3.52% of high school students were enrolled in a physics course.
Spring 2015
• 1.63% of high school students were enrolled in a physics course.
Physics Courses Offered in Fall 2014
1. Physics, 11th or 12th grade
2. Physics Honors, 9th or 10th grade
3. Physics Honors, 11th or 12th grade
4. Physics for the Technologies, 11th or 12th grade
Statistics for Enrollment of Physics Courses, Fall 2014
Crestwood High School Lakewood High School Sumter High School
Total population: 1167 Total population: 1232 Total population: 2341
1. 21 1. 48 1. 8
2 and 3. 43 2 and 3. 25 2 and 3. 22
4. 0 4. 0 4. 0
Physics Courses Offered in Spring 2015
1. Physics, 11th or 12th grade
2. Physics Honors, 9th or 10th grade
3. Physics Honors, 11th or 12th grade
Statistics for Enrollment of Physics Courses, Spring 2015
Crestwood High School Lakewood High School Sumter High School
Total population: 1135 Total population: 1190 Total population: 2268
1. 8 1. 38 1. 0
2 and 3. 19 2 and 3. 0 2 and 3. 10
Lori Smith, Coordinator of Science and Fine Arts of SSD:
• Enrollment in physics courses was insufficient.
• Reduces likelihood of enrolling in physics course in college.
• Prevents from entering career paths with requirement of physics.
Research Objective
Examine the possible factors that were related to and had influenced SSD high school students’ decisions to enroll/not enroll in a physics course.
Motivation Behind Research
• Insufficient/Low enrollment in high school physics courses→Insufficient/Low enrollment in college physics courses
OR unsuccessfulness in college physics courses →Reduced number of graduates in science and engineering degrees.
• Physics is the basis of all sciences.
• Physics forms the foundation of engineering.→Success in physics crucial for excellent performance in such disciplines
→Vital for
societal advancement
national defense
upholding the United States of America’s position of global preeminence in science and technology
Purpose of Research
• Raise awareness of possible reasons behind low enrollment in physics courses in SSD
• Inform of possible factors that increase enrollment→Take appropriate action
• Shape USC Sumter’s outreach efforts in local high schools
Research Question
What are school-based and student-based factors that had influenced SSD high school students’ decisions regarding their enrollment in a physics course?
Methodology
Electronic survey consisting of 29 multiple-choice and short-answer questions conducted among voluntary participants from seniors of SSD.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1oZFhBe3UKY8WVVCcg0KUIzaHp4As77__NdtvmoVicm4/viewform?c=0&w=1
Survey details
Sample size: 190Date: April 23, 2015
‒90 from Crestwood HS‒97 from Lakewood HS‒Remaining 3 did not state
‒79 had enrolled in a physics class during HS‒101 had not enrolled in a physics class during HS‒Remaining 10 did not state
9. Which parents and/or guardians do you live with?
Both Parents 41.77%
Single Mother3.80%
Single Father 39.24%
Single Mother and Non-parent Guardian
2.53%
Single Father and Non-parent
Guardian 5.06%
Non-parent Guardian 3.80%
Other(s) 1.27%
(No answer) 2.53%
Enrolled in Physics
Both Parents 29.70%
Single Mother4.95%
Single Father 40.59%
Single Father and Non-parent Guardian
6.93%
Non-parent Guardian 11.88%
Other(s) 2.97%
(No answer) 2.97%
Had Not Enrolled in Physics
10. What is your father's highest educational attainment?
Masters degree 3.80%
Bachelors degree 15.19%
Associates degree 12.66%
Some college 1.27%High school
55.70%
Less than high school 1.27% (No answer)
10.13%
Enrolled in Physics
Doctorate degree 0.99%
Masters degree 0.99%
Bachelors degree 6.93%
Associates degree 11.88%
Some college 3.96%
High school 47.52%
Less than high school 3.96%
(No answer) 23.76%
Had Not Enrolled in Physics
11. What is your mother's highest educational attainment?
Masters degree 10.13%
Bachelors degree 24.05%
Associates degree 15.19%
Some college 7.59%
High school 34.18%
Less than high school 2.53%
(No answer) 6.33%
Enrolled in Physics
Doctorate degree 0.99%
Masters degree 8.91%
Bachelors degree 14.85%
Associates degree 14.85%
Some college 7.92%
High school 38.61%
Less than high school 3.96%
(No answer) 9.90%
Had Not Enrolled in Physics
12.2. On average, approximately how many hours do you spend on extra-curricular activities per week?
0-5h 29.11%
>5-10h 17.72%
>10-15h 16.46%
>15-20h 7.59%
>20-25h 6.33%
>25-30h 5.06%
>30h 6.33%
(No answer) 11.39%
Enrolled in Physics
0-5h 46.53%
>5-10h 10.89%
>10-15h 3.96%>15-20h
1.98%
>20-25h 2.97%
>25-30h 1.98%
>30h 5.94%
(No answer) 25.74%
Had Not Enrolled in Physics
13.1. Do you have a job outside school?
No job 65.82%
Job 31.65%
(No answer) 2.53%
Enrolled in Physics
No job 58.42%
Job 39.60%
(No answer) 1.98%
Had Not Enrolled in Physics
13.2.2 On average, approximately how many hours do you work per week?
>0-10h 5.06%
>10-20h 15.19%
>20-30h 10.13%
>30-40h5.06%
>40h1.27%
(No answer) 63.29%
Enrolled in Physics
>0-10h 16.83%
>10-20h 13.86%
>20-30h 9.90%
>30-40h 3.96%>40h
1.98%
(No answer) 53.47%
Had Not Enrolled in Physics
14. Which of the following are you most likely to do after high school?
College 68.35%
Technical college 13.92%
Workforce 1.27%
Military 16.46%
Enrolled in Physics
College 48.51%
Technical college 26.73%
Workforce 3.96%
Military 13.86%
Other 6.93%
Had Not Enrolled in Physics
16. What do your parents expect you to do after high school?
College 70.89%
Technical college 7.59%
Workforce 3.80%
Military 15.19%
Other 1.27%
(No answer) 1.27%
Enrolled in Physics
College 61.39%
Technical college 15.84%
Workforce 1.98%
Military 12.87%
Other 6.93%
(No answer) 0.99%
Had Not Enrolled in Physics
17. Have you ever been offered a physics class during counseling?
Yes 62.03%
No 36.71%
(No answer) 1.27%
Enrolled in Physics
Yes 24.75%
No 80.20%
(No answer) 2.97%
Had Not Enrolled in Physics
18.1. Has anyone ever encouraged you to study physics?
Yes 34.18%
No 65.82%
Enrolled in Physics
Yes 17.82%
No 80.20%
(No answer) 1.98%
Had Not Enrolled in Physics
19.1 Has the importance of physics ever been explained to you?
Yes 29.11%
No 69.62%
(No answer) 1.27%
Enrolled in Physics
Yes 8.91%
No 89.11%
(No answer) 1.98%
Had Not Enrolled in Physics
23. Would/Will your friends or social group support you if you enroll(ed) in a physics class?
Yes 74.68%
No 25.32%
Enrolled in Physics
Yes 45.54%
No 50.50%
(No answer) 3.96%
Had Not Enrolled in Physics
22. If you answered “No", what was your reason for not enrolling in a physics class?
Out of the 76 students who had not enrolled in a physics class, who answered,
25. What was your reason for enrolling in a physics class?
Out of the 65 students who had enrolled in a physics class, who answered,
28. How do you think your physics class(es) could/can be improved?
Analytical DiscussionPercentage who enrolled in a physics course during HS
vs.
Percentage who had not enrolled in a physics course during HS
• " > " living with both parents
• " < " living with single parent
• " < >3x " living with non-parent guardian
• " >2x > " father’s highest educational attainment bachelors degree
• " > " mother’s highest educational attainment bachelors degree
Percentage who enrolled in a physics course during HS
vs.
Percentage who had not enrolled in a physics course during HS
• " < " spent average 0-5 hours per week on ECA
• " > " spent average >5-10, >10-15, >15-20, >20-25, >25-30 and >30 hours per week on ECA
Percentage who enrolled in a physics course during HS
vs.
Percentage who had not enrolled in a physics course during HS
• " < " held a job outside school
• " < >3x " worked >0-10 hours per week
• " > " worked >10-20, >20-30 and >30-40 hours per week
• " < " worked >40 hours per week
Percentage who enrolled in a physics course during HS
vs.
Percentage who had not enrolled in a physics course during HS
• " > " said most likely to attend college/join the military after finishing HS
• " < " said most likely to attend technical college/enter work force/be involved in other matters after finishing HS
• " > " parents expected to attend college/enter work force/join the military after finishing HS
• " < " parents expected to attend technical college/be involved in other matters after finishing HS
Percentage who enrolled in a physics course during HS
vs.
Percentage who had not enrolled in a physics course during HS
• " >2x > " offered a physics class during counseling
• " 2x > " encouraged to study physics
• " >3x > " had importance of physics explained to
• " > " would be supported by friends or social groups if enrolled in a physics class
• Results of short-answer question 22:Most of the students who had not enrolled in a physics class did not enroll in one because they did not need it to graduate.
• Results of short-answer question 25:Majority of the students who enrolled in a physics class enrolled in one because they were made/required to.
• Results of short-answer question 28:Most of the students thought that physics classes could be improved by teaching and explaining better.
Conclusion
The data suggests…
• … students who were living with both parents compared to single parents were more likely to enroll in a physics course during high school.
• … students who were living with a non-parent guardian were significantly less likely to enroll in a physics course during high school.
• … students whose fathers’ highest educational attainment was a bachelors degree were significantly more likely to enroll in a physics course during high school.
• … students whose mothers’ highest educational attainment was a bachelors degree were more likely to enroll in a physics course during high school.
• … students who spent an average of 0-5 hours per week on ECA were less likely to enroll in a physics course during high school.
• … students who spent an average of >5-10, >10-15, >15-20, >20-25, >25-30 and >30 hours per week on ECA were more likely to enroll in a physics course during high school.
• … students who held a job outside school were less likely to enroll in a physics course during high school.
• … students who worked an average of >0-10 hours per week at their jobs were significantly less likely to enroll in a physics course during high school.
• … students who worked an average of >10-20, >20-30 and >30-40 hours per week at their jobs were more likely to enroll in a physics course during high school.
• … students who worked an average of >40 hours per week at their jobs were less likely to enroll in a physics course during high school.
• … students who expressed an inclination to attend college or join the military after finishing high school were more likely to enroll in a physics course during high school.
• … students who expressed an inclination to attend technical college, enter the work force, or be involved in other matters after finishing high school were less likely to enroll in a physics course during high school.
• … students whose parents expected them to attend college, enter the work force, or join the military after finishing high school were more likely to enroll in a physics course during high school.
• … students whose parents expected them to attend technical college or be involved in other matters after finishing high school were less likely to enroll in a physics course during high school.
• … students who were offered a physics class during counseling were significantly more likely to enroll in a physics course during high school.
• … students who were encouraged to study physics were significantly more likely to enroll in a physics course during high school.
• … students who had the importance of physics explained to were significantly more likely to enroll in a physics course during high school.
• … students who would be supported by their friends or social groups if they enrolled in a physics class were more likely to enroll in one during high school.
• … students were most likely not to enroll in a physics course during high school because they did not need it to graduate.
• … students were most likely to enroll in a physics course during high school because they were made or required to.
• … most students believed that better teaching and explanation could improve physics classes.
Advocacy
Factors that are within our control, eg.:
• Offering a physics class during counseling
• Encouraging students to study physics
• Explaining the importance of physics to students
*Strong in their influence.
→School districts may increase enrollment in physics classes by taking action accordingly.
• Start physics society to provide social support to students
• Administer such surveys to discover reasons behind students’ decisions to enroll/not enroll in physics courses
→Ideas implemented appropriately
Acknowledgements
Thanks to The University of South Carolina Sumter for funding with the Summer Faculty Scholarship Stipend.
Thanks to Lori Smith, Coordinator of Science and Fine Arts, and the personnel and students of Crestwood High School and Lakewood High School of the Sumter School District.